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Description

A grass species originated in Southeast Asia, Saccharum officinarum or Sugarcane is a perennial clump-forming plant reaching a height of up to 5m. The leaves are green, alternate, linear, and elongated with internodes, thick midribs, and saw-toothed edges. The leaf ash is used against sore eyes while stem juice is against sore throats, snake bites, and wounds from poison arrows. Leaf decoction, on the other hand, is used in the treatment of urinary conditions. The stems contains a very sweet sap which can be consumed as a drink, made into syrups, or dried to make sugar and molasses among others. It can also be manufactured into alcohol for used as a fuel in combustion engines. The stem also produces wax which can be used in the production of furniture, shoe, leather polishes, electrical insulating material, and waxed paper. Furthermore, the stem yields fiber used for paper-making. Cane residue once sugar is extracted is known as bagasse. It is used as a fuel and for manufacturing paper pulp, plastic, fiberboard, etc.

Saccharum officinarum is a PERENNIAL growing to 6 m by 1.5 m at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone 9.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Cultivation

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen Fodder: Bank Global Crop Industrial Crop: Biomass Industrial Crop: Wax Management: Hay Other Systems: Dyke-pond Other Systems: Homegarden Staple Crop: Sugar
Most commercial sugarcane is grown at latitudes between 35N and S in the tropics, usually at elevations from sea level to 1,600 metres. The plant grows best in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, tolerating 1,000 - 5,000mm. It prefers a mean annual temperature within the range 24 - 37c, though can tolerate 15 - 41c. There are large differences between different cultivars in their tolerance to cold and susceptibility to frost. Generally, long-term exposure to temperatures below 10c can be lethal, whilst even short periods at 0?c causes the leaves to become chlorotic, at about -3c young plants turn brown and the terminal buds and leaves of mature cane die, when the temperature reaches -11.5c the whole plant dies. Grows best in a sunny position. A very greedy plant, soon exhausting the soil of nutrients. The plant is considered to be moderately tolerant to saline soil conditions and relatively tolerant of acid soils. Grows best in a position sheltered from strong winds. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 8, but can tolerate 4.5 - 9. Well-grown plants can become invasive. When irrigated, yields of 100 - 150 tons of cane can be obtained from mature plants. Young plants can yield 60 - 90 tons. There are many named varieties. The roots develop from the growth ring on the original planting piece and also from the new shoots that develop. The majority of the roots are thin and superficial with four fifths of the roots commonly found in the top 25 - 50cm of the soil. Thicker roots will penetrate to depths of 4 metres or more. Flowering Time: Late Winter/Early Spring. Bloom Color: White/Near White.

HabitatsNot known as a wild plant.

Resources


Major pests

Minor pests

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